Main sources of microplastic ocean pollution worldwide 2016

Tire abrasion is a major source of microplastic leakage in the environment. Of these four sources of microplastics, tires accounted for 78 percent of microplastics leakage to the ocean. Plastic production pellets were the second largest source, accounting for almost 20 percent of microplastics ocean pollution. Microplastics are small pieces of plastics with a diameter of less than five millimeters long. These microplastics are routinely ingested by marine life and have also been found in human organs, posing potential health risks.